Important Links

Overview

This is a three-credit senior-level course that explores topics that relate to Aboriginal governments in Canada. This course is divided into three sections. Part 1 looks at traditional Aboriginal governance systems before the arrival of Europeans. Part 2 looks at the impact of colonialism on Aboriginal governments, and Part 3 describes some of the contemporary Aboriginal government structures that are emerging today.

Most of the topics in this course are explained through a general survey format, supplemented by specific examples, and explored in greater depth through detailed case studies. Like most Indigenous Studies courses, the sources for INST 377 are interdisciplinary. They include academic articles and books by Indigenous and non Indigenous authors, Aboriginal oral histories, legal decisions, policy papers, and other sources. The approach of this course is to assume that emerging Aboriginal governments will be most successful where they are based on the traditional governments of the past, and incorporate traditional philosophies and laws in a modern context.

Outline

Unit 1: Traditional Aboriginal Governments

Part 1: Traditional Laws and the Natural Environment

Part 2: Political Traditions and Philosophies of Aboriginal Governance

Part 3: Treaty Making Traditions

Unit 2: Impact of Colonialism on Aboriginal Governments

Part 1: Colonialism and the Canadian Judiciary

Part 2: Conflicts Between Indigenous and Canadian Law

Part 3: Colonialism, Power and Leadership

Unit 3: Emerging Indigenous Government Structures

Part 1: The Constitution Question

Part 2: Indigenous Governance and Modern Treaties

Part 3: Towards Implementing Aboriginal Governance

Evaluation

To receive credit for INST 377, you must achieve a course composite grade of at least “D” (50 percent) and a grade of at least 50 percent on the final examination. The weighting of the composite grade is as follows:

Activity

Weighting

Assignment 1

20%

Assignment 2

20%

Assignment 3

20%

Final Exam

40%

Total

100%

To learn more about assignments and examinations, please refer to Athabasca University's online Calendar.